To keep your premium alcoholic drinks fresh for longer, a cooling unit is a must have for any half-decent wine cellar. But while you’ll likely understand the purpose of a cellar cooling unit, you may not be entirely familiar with the specifics of how they work, and their overall functionality (e.g. How long do they last?). In this article, we’re going to go over the fundamentals of cooling units, so you have a better idea of what you’re buying into when it comes to your next cooling unit purchase.
How do they work?
Cellar cooling units work in a similar way as refrigerant units; they utilise convection currents to chill the surrounding air. When liquid refrigerant inside the unit converts to gas, warm air from the cellar is absorbed into the refrigerant, thus cooling the air as it passes over the coil. The unit's blower fan then pumps the chilled air back out into the cellar so that your drinks remain cold-to-the-touch.
We could go more into the technical side of how cooling units work, but for a prospective buyer, that’s all you’ll need to know.
How long do they last?
The answer to this question is really dependent on how well you take care of your cooling unit. If you don’t ensure that it is well maintained, then the unit will quickly fall into disrepair. And if you have had it for a few years already, some of the the original parts produced for the unit may not be available anymore; the unit will then become completely obsolete within only a few years
However, if you take good care of your cooling unit, mending any necessary repairs, keeping it clean and tidy, then it could last you a good 15+ years.
Self-Contained vs Split Systems
One decision you’ll have to make when dividing which cooling unit to purchase is whether or not you would like a self contained or a split system cooler.
Generally, self contained units are much chunkier and more of an eye sore. They require lots of space (which may be limited if your cellar isn’t enormous) and can get in the way of aesthetics. They can also be noisier, and require more upkeep.
However they are the most efficient type of cooling unit. They are usually very energy efficient and are incredibly cheap to run, sometimes up to 2⁄3 the price of split system cooling.
Split system units are better at creating an equal temperature distribution across a large space. The individual units are also smaller and are more adaptable to the layout of your cellar. They also tend to be more energy efficient, and are easier to install.
But as we’ve already mentioned, they can be a lot more expensive than their self-contained counterparts, and that’s their achilles heel.
Well that was a quick rundown of some of the most key aspects of cellar cooling units that you should know! We hope you found this article useful!
